Overexpression of VSNL1 enhances cell proliferation in colorectal carcinogenesis

Introduction: We have previously reported that overexpression of VSNL1 (Visinin-like protein 1) is frequently observed in advanced colorectal adenocarcinomas and correlates with poorer prognosis. In this study, we determined the levels of VSNL1 expression in the earlier stages of colorectal tumors including adenomas and adenocarcinomas, and attempted to clarify the functional significance of VSNL1 overexpression in colorectal carcinogenesis.Methods: Levels of VSNL expression in colorectal tumor tissues were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The effects of VSNL1 downregulation and overexpression on cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and invasiveness were determined using two VSNL1-overexpressing colorectal cancer cell lines, CW-2 and HCT116 and VSNL1 inducibly expressing SNU-C5, respectively. Gene expression signatures in VSNL1-downregulated CW-2 and HCT116 were identified using transcriptome and gene set enrichment analyses.Results: VSNL1 expression was restricted to only a few crypt cells in the non-tumorous epithelium, whereas it became enhanced in adenomas and adenocarcinomas with the progression of tumorigenesis. Downregulation of VSNL1 in CW-2 and HCT116 cells suppressed their proliferation through induction of apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of VSNL1 in SNU-C5 cells enhanced resistance to anoikis. Transcriptome and gene set enrichment analyses revealed that downregulation of VSNL1 altered the expression level of the apoptosis-related gene set in CW-2 and HCT116 cells.Conclusion: VSNL1 plays a role in both the development and progression of colorectal tumors by enhancing cell viability.